Paddle device



April 9, 1929. P Y N PADDLE DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1928 W mw W W .71,

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK RYAN, OF HEBRON, INDIANA.

IPAIDDLE DEVICE.

Application filed October 15, 15228.

The invention relates to paddles and more particularly to a paddledevice of thetype that fits against the palm-of the hand and isoperative to facilitate propulsion of the user through or on the water.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved paddledevice of this character which is adapted primarily for use in swimming,furnishes a comparatively large paddle area adjacent the hand and may beoperated readily l11Cl WL'tl'lOl1l/ fatiguing the user to anyappreciable extent. In general, this device consists of a plate which isadapted to fit against the palm and wrist portion of the hand and isprovided with elastic strips or bands whereby it may he held fixedly inplace, and a flapper-member which is pivotally connected to the frontportion of the plate in such a manner that during the back operativestroke of the user it extends at substantially right angles to the handand offers resistance to movement through the water, and during theforward inoperative stroke it extends in close proximity to the usershand and affords practically no resistance.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a paddle device of theaforementioned type in which the plate is shaped so that it may begripped and held securely in place between the first and little fingersand the thumb to avoid displacement.

A further object of the invent-ion is the provision of stop means whichis operative to hold the flapper-member, during the users forwardoperative stroke, at a comparatively small angle relatively to the platewith result that sa-id member will be angularly held with respect to thepath of movement and consequently upon the initial part of the backstroke the water will act upon the back face of the member to swingautomatically and positively the latter into its operative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a resilientstrip which is engaged by the flapper member when it is in its operativeposition and forms a spring connection or cushion between said memberand the plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paddle device whichconsists essentially of but a small number of parts and may bemanufactured at a low cost.

Serial No. 312,500.

Other objects will be manifest from a consideration of the followingdetailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusionhereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specificationor disclosare and in which like numerals of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention,viewed from the front side, that is, the side that embodies theflapper-member;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, viewed from the opposite or back side;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the resilientcushion-forming strip between the flapper-member and the plate; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the manner inwhich the stop means operates to hold the flapper-member at an anglewith respect to the hand-engaging plate during the forward inoperativestroke of the user.

The invention is exemplified in a device which is usable and is adaptedprimarily to facilitate propulsion of the user during swimming oraquatics. This device comprises a plate 5 which is preferably made froma rectan ular piece of wood or other suitable light material. The frontportion of the plate 5 is adapted to fit against the palm and the basesof the fingers of the users hand as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. Theback portion 5 of said plate is adapted to fit against the wrist of theusers hand and is provided at the sides thereof with notches or recessesG for receiving the thumb. These notches extend from the central portionof the plate 5 to the extreme back end and operate to narrow the backportion 5 so that the latter is of the proper shape or width to underliethe users wrist. By having a notch 6 on either side of the plate 5 thedevice may be used in the right hand or the left interchangeablyinasmuch as there is always available a recess for the thumb. Quadrantaipieces are cut out of the front corners of the front portion 5 to formconcave notches or recesses 7 for receiving the first and littlefingers. The portions of the plate 5 between the notches 6 and 7 formlaterally projecting ears 8 which are adapted to be gripped between thefirst finger and thumb to avoid displacement of the device from theusers hand. The plate is held in its operative position by means of apair of elastic bands or strips 9 and 10. he ends of the strip 9 aresecured to the front face of the back portion '5" by screws or staples11 and the central part of said strip extends around the portion 5 andforms a loop which is adapted to encircle the wrist of the user for thepurpose of holcing said back portion of the plate Sin close proximitythereto. The ends of the strip 10 extend over and around the notches 7and are secured to the front face of the front portion 5 by screws orstaples 12. The central portion of the strip 10 extends in the samedirection as the strip 9 and forms a loop which is adapted to extendaround or encircle the second and third fingers as illustrated in Figure3. The strips 9 and 10 together with the notches 6 and 7 exemplify meansof an improved character whereby the device may be held fixedly in itsoperative position.

The paddle device also comprises a flapper-member 13 which is preferablymade from a rectangular piece of wood. This member is pivotallyconnected to the front portion 5 of the plate 5 by a hinge l-l so thatit may be swung from an inoperative position adjacent the back portion 5to a substantially right angle operative position. The hinge 1%comprises a pair of hinge-elements 14 and 14 which are joined togetherby a pivot pin or pintle 1 1 The element 14 fits against the front faceof the portion 5 and is rigidly secured in place by screws 15. Thehinge-element 1r fits against the back face of the flapper-member 13adjacent the latters inner end and is fixedly secured in place by screws16. The pivot pin l f like the element 14, is positioned adjacent theback face of the flapper-member with the result that the inner edge 13of said flappermember forms an abutment which permits the forwardmovement of the member 13 past its operative position. During forwardstroke of the device, the flapper-member will be in its inoperative orsubstantially parallel position (see Figure 1) and consequently will notresist thrust or forward movement through the water. During the initialpart of the users return stroke, that is, movement of the hand towardthe body, the water acting against the back face of the flapper-member13 will cause said menr ber to be swung into its operative outwardlyextending position (see Figures 2 and 3). In this position theflapper-member will offer resistance to the return movement through thewater andwill operate to effect and facilitate propulsion.

In practice, it has been found that the best results are obtainable andgreater leverage or resistance to the water is afforded when theflapper-member 13 extends at an angle which is in excess of 90 withrespect to the wrist-engaging back portion 5' of the plate. With thisend in view, the inner edge 13 of the flapper member is beveled, asshown in Figure i, so that it is operative to hold the member in thedesired angular portion which is slightly in excess of 90. To eliminatenoise and to form a spring cushion between the flapper-member 13 and theplate 5, a resilient strip 1'" is provided. This strip is preferablyformed of rubber and is interposed be ween the edge 13 of theflapper-member and the element 1% of the hinge. The ends of the strip 17are secure-d in place adjacent the side edges of said hinge-element A byscrews 18. utilizing a resilient strip of this character is that theflapper-member cushioned when it is swung into its operative positionand compresses the strip so that the latter exerts rearward pressure onsaid mem er and consequently results in greater leverage to the user.

A rubber stud 19 is secured to the front face of the portion 5 of theplate 5 by a screw 20. This stud forms a stop which pre vents theflapper-member 13 from being swung against the plate 15 when it is inits operative position with theresult that the flapper-member is heldangularly with respect to the path of movement of t i ne users hand andconsequently upon the initial part of the back stroke, the water morereadily acts upon the back face of the flapper-incur her to effectautomatic and positive .throw .of the latter into its operativeposition.

The paddle device is applied by slipping the hand through the loopportions of the strips 9 and 10 so that the wrist is held against theback portion 5 and the second and third fingers are held in placeagainst the front portion 5. ()ne of the ears 8 is then gripped betweenthe thumb and the first finger so that the device is securely heldagainst accidental displacement. As previ ously pointed out, during theswimming operation the flapper-member 13 abuts against the stud 19 andis positioned in close proxinr ity to the plate 5 so that it does notoffer resistance to the forward stroke of the hand. iVhcn the hand ofthe operative or user is pulled toward the body, the wateract-s to swingthe flapper-member 13 into its operative position. In this latterposition the member operates as a paddle and offers resistance to thewater. In practice it contemplated that the operator use one device oneach hand. v

The paddle device herein described consists of but a small number ofparts and consequently may be manufactured at a reasonable andcomparatively low cost. It is ex An advantage of V tremely efficient inoperation and facilitates as Well as speeds up propulsion.

Although the device has been described being practically adapted for usein con nection with svinnning, it is to be understood that it may beused to pr cl a canoe, row boat or similar Water craft. It is also to beunderstood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modilied within the scope of the appendedclaims, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters latent, is:

l. A. paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate provided with means whereby it may be held against the palm of thehand, and a fl..ppermember movably connec'cd to the front portion of theplate so that it may be shi t from an inoperative position adjacent theplate to an operative position substantially at right to said plate.

2. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate provided With means whereby it may he held against the palm of thehand, and a flappermeinber pivotally connected to the front portion ofthe plate so that it may be swung from an ino crative posi ion adjacentthe plate to an operative position substantially at right angles to saidplate.

A paddle device of the character described, said device com rising aplate provided with elastic loops whereby it may be held against thepalm of the hand, and a flzipper-member movably connected to the frontportion of the plate so that it may be shifted from an inoperativeposition adjacent the plate to an operative position substantially atright angles to said plate.

i. A paddle device of the cnaractcr desc .lbed, said device comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand, one of the sidemargins of said plate having formed in the back portion thereof a notchfor receiving the thumb, and a flapper-mem ber movably connected to theiront portion of the plate so that it may be shifted from an inoperativeposition adjacent the plate to an operative position substantially atright angles to said plate.

5. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand and the Wrist, theside margins of said plate being cut away at the back portions t-here ofto form thumb-notches, and a flappermember movably connected to thefront por tion of the plate so that it may be shifted from aninoperative position adjacent the plate to an operative positionsubstantially at right angles to said plate.

6. A paddle device of the character de scribed, said device comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand, said plate beingformed from a substantially rectangular piece of material. and havingthe front corners thereof cut a ay to form notches for receiving thefirst and little lingers, and a flapper-n'icmbcr movablv connected tothe front portion of I. re plate so that it may be shifted fr m aninoperative position adjacent the plate to an operative positionsubstantially at right angles to said plate.

7. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand, said plate beingformed from a substantially rectangular piece of material and hav ingthe front corners thereof cut away to form notches for receiving thefirst and tie lingers, an elastic strip for holdir plate in itsoperative position, said strip 1ein in the form of a loop and having theends thereof extending over the notches and secured to the front portionof the plate, and a llapper-meinbcr movably connected to said frontportion of the plate so that it may be shifted from a osition adjacentthe plate to a position substantially at right to said plate.

8. A paddle device of the character described, said cevice comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand, said plate having alaterally extending our adapted to be gripped between the first fingerand thumb to hold said plate against displacement when it is to be used,and a flapper-member movably, connected to the front portion of theplate so that it may be shifted from an inoperative position adj acentthe plate to an operative posit-ion sub stantially at right angles tosaid plate.

9. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate adapted to fit against the palm of the hand and the Wrist, a pairof elastic loops for securing the plate in its operative position, oneof said loops being attached to the front portion of the plate andadapted to extend around the fingers of the user, the other strip beingattached to the back portion of the plate and adapted to encircle theWrist, and a flapper-member movably connected to said front portion ofthe plate so that it may be shifted from aposition adj acentthe plate toa position substantially at right angles to said plate.

10. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprisinga, plate pro vided with means whereby it may be held against the palm ofthe hand, a flapperinember positioned adjacent the outer face of saidplate, and a hinge ror connecting the flapper-member to the frontportion of the plate, said hinge being arranged so that the inner edgeof the flapper-member forms an abutment which prevents said member frombeing shifted forwardly past aposition at substantially right angles tothe plate.

11. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising aplate proinner edge of the flapper-member forms an abutment whichprevents said member from being shifted forwardly past a position atsubstantially right angles to the plate, and a resilient strip on theplate'against which the abutment-forming edge of the flappermemberengages when said member is in right angle position.

12. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising asubstantially flat plate provided 1 'ith means whereby itmay be heldagainst the palm of the hand, a substantially flat flapper-memberpivotally connected to the front portion of the plate so that it may beswung backwardly from an operative position at substantially rightangles to tl e plate an inoperative position adjacent the back portionof the plate, and stop means attached to and projecting outwardly fromsaid plate and operative to hold the flapper-member at a comparativelysmall angle relatively to the plate when it is in said inoperativeposition.

13. A paddle device of the character described, said device comprising asubstantially flatplate provided with means Whereby it may be heldagainst the palm of the hand, a substantially fiat flapper-memberpivotally connected to the front portion of the plate so that it may beswung bacle wardly from an operative position at substantially rightangles to the plate to an inoperative position adjacent the back portionof the plate, and resilient stop means attached to and projectingoutwardly from said plate and operative to hold the flapper-member at acomparatively small angle relatively to the plate when it is in saidinoperative position. V

14. A paddle device of the character described, comprising a plateprovided with means whereby it may be held against the palm of the hand,a flapper-member pivotally connected to the front portion of the plateand adapted to extend at substantially right angles relatively to theplate when it is in its operative position, and resilient means attachedto said front portion of the plate and forming acushion for thefiapperanember when it is in said operative position.

Signed at lebron, Indiana, this 5t oi October, 1928.

day

PATRICK RYAN.

